Porter Goss

Mr. GOSS

Mr. GOSS. That is correct.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the conference report on the Fiscal Year 2001 Intelligence Authorization bill. I believe that hard work and careful deliberation has produced a first-rate bill that funds the critically important work of our intelligence community, and we are all reminded today just how critical that work is. As has been the long-standing custom of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, this conference report is a bipartisan product which reflects credit on our committee's members and its very highly professional staff, and I want to thank all involved. This conference report authorizes funds for fiscal year 2001 intelligence-related activities, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. I just wanted to take a moment to highlight several provisions of the conference report for the consideration of Members. First, this conference report, I am happy to announce, includes Senator Moynihan's ``Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000.'' This legislation is an important first step in regaining control and putting some order to the government's declassification process, a subject of great interest to many Members. I want to commend Senator Moynihan for his tireless work to encourage the appropriate and timely declassification of appropriate U.S. Government records. Another initiative of note is language addressing the serious problem of leaks of classified information by U.S. Government officials. Mr. Speaker, leaking classified government information is not a right or a privilege of U.S. officials or employees who have access to that information. Too often over the past few years, we have significantly risked, and sometimes lost, fragile intelligence resources because those employed by the government and who have access to classified information have chosen to leak that information and, thus, have ignored their commitments to national security. Damage has been done. The provision in this conference report simply states that, if one is a current or former government employee who had access to classified material that one has promised to protect, that one must live up to those obligations. If one does not, then one is going to be held accountable. The provision is narrowly crafted to protect the rights that all Americans hold dear. It is not, as some will say, an affront to the first amendment. In fact, the Justice Department has reviewed the provision and finds no constitutional infirmity. They even support the provision. The committee has looked carefully at this provision. As George Tenet, the Director of Central Intelligence, has stated, ``the administration leaks like a sieve.'' This must stop. Mr. Speaker, although I expect some discussion about the provision I just mentioned, I do not want Members to lose sight of a key and important fact. Today's activities in the Middle East speak volumes, sad volumes, I am afraid to say, to the type of world that we now live in. The apparent attack on the U.S.S. Cole and the violence in Israel and Palestine are terrible reminders of how fragile our national security can be. The only way to be ready to face the threats to our security, and that is the security of all Americans at home and abroad, is by having a vibrant first line of defense that provides indications and warning, and that is our intelligence community. This conference report directly helps to rebuild resources that were cut after the Cold War and ensures the protection of our rights and liberties now and in the future. It is carefully crafted. Before I close, I want to mention one other important point. With the conclusion of this Congress, the committee will lose the talents of several valued Members who have either served out their terms on the committee or who have chosen to seek other opportunities. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), our esteemed vice chairman, who also serves this body as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on appropriations will rotate off the committee. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) has been a tireless supporter of the committee and of the intelligence community. His insights and his opinions have been invaluable to me and to the committee. He has also been instrumental in ensuring that his subcommittee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence work very closely together, which has benefitted this House in many ways. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), and all Americans thank him for the work he has done. In addition, I would like to recognize two other Members who will not be with the committee next year: the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi). They have each contributed in an important way to the committee's work, and we on the committee shall certainly miss them. Also, I would be remiss if I did not mention the excellent work by staff on both sides of the aisle, and I say that from my heart. Their efforts have allowed for us to be here today with a good bipartisan product on a critical subject. Mr. Speaker, this is a good and important piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to support its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), a very valued member of our committee, given all the events in that part of the world.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to again publicly thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dixon) for being an extraordinary ranking member, reaching across so many times on complicated and sensitive matters and carrying a huge proportion of the load of the committee. I have a plan that would like to keep him there as ranking member. I realize that may not go entirely across the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), the vice chairman and critical link to the Committee on Appropriations. (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson).

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, this rules provides for the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 4392, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. Further, the rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. This is the standard approach for conference reports, and this is a noncontroversial rule. I urge all of my colleagues to support it. In addition, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the conference report itself. While we will discuss the substance of the conference report during the general debate, this bill is extremely critical in terms of making sure our intelligence agencies have the capabilities needed to protect the United States and the lives of American citizens at home and abroad. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), our connection to the Committee on Armed Services. (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood). (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the chairman of our Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass), a man who keeps our budget check working carefully for the committee.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barr)

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), a senior member of the committee. (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. GOSS. Yes, it is.

Mr. GOSS

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday next.

Mr. GOSS

Mr. GOSS. If the gentleman will continue to yield, I think the gentleman undervalues the question.

Mr. GOSS. I am sorry to say that I do not have the answer to that question.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I am very pleased to announce that the House has completed its legislative business for the week. The House will not be in session tomorrow. The House will meet next week for legislative business on Tuesday, October 17, at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour, and at 12 noon for legislative business. The House will consider a number of measures under suspension of the rules, a list of which will be distributed to Members' offices tomorrow. On Wednesday, October 18, and the balance of the week the House will consider the following measures: H.R. 4635, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act conference report; H.R. 4577, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations conference report; and H.R. 4942, the District of Columbia appropriations conference report. Mr. Speaker, the House will also consider any other conference reports that may become available throughout the week.

Mr. GOSS. If the gentleman will continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday there is possibly a motion to go to conference on the VA-HUD bill. That is a possibility.

Mr. GOSS

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday next.

Mr. GOSS

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent when the House adjourns on Monday, October 16, 2000, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, for morning hour debates.

Mr. GOSS

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 611 and ask for its immediate consideration.